Cable tensioning cycling system

ABSTRACT

A cable testing system including a first storage reel for paying out a cable, a first moveable sheave and a second moveable sheave to receive the cable in series from the first storage reel, wherein rotation of the first moveable sheave and the second moveable sheave is controlled by a first drive, a third moveable sheave and a fourth moveable sheave to receive the cable in series from the second moveable sheave, a first clutch and a second clutch operably coupled between at least two of the first moveable sheave, the second moveable sheave, the third moveable sheave, and the fourth moveable sheave, a moveable tensioning sheave coupled to a power source, the moveable tensioning sheave positioned to receive a portion of the cable between the second moveable sheave and the third moveable sheave, and a second storage reel to receive the cable from the fourth moveable sheave.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/886,762, filed Sep. 21, 2010, which claims benefit of U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/244,563, filed Sep. 22, 2009.Each of the aforementioned related patent applications is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present embodiments generally relate to a hydraulically and/orelectrically operated system for testing cable under variable tensionsand speeds with lower input horsepower requirements.

A need exists for a system that can cycle test long-length cable samplesat variable cable tensions and speeds.

A need exists for a system that can reduce the amount of horsepowerrequired to cycle cable.

A need exists for a closed loop tensioning system that can effectivelyclose the loop and allow cable to be tensioned and cycled with lesshorsepower.

The present embodiments meet these needs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative hydraulic cycle test system.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative electrically operated cycle test system.

FIG. 3 is a hydraulic drive.

FIG. 4 is a electric drive.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative hydraulic power source.

FIG. 6 is a simplified schematic representation of a portion of thehydraulic cycle test system shown in FIG. 1.

The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listedFigures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining the present system in detail, it is to be understoodthat the system is not limited to the particular embodiments, and thesystem can be practiced or carried out in various ways.

The present embodiments relate to a hydraulically and/or electricallyoperated system for testing cable under variable tensions and speedswith a lower input horsepower requirement.

The present embodiments further relate to a hydraulic operated systemthat can include: a first storage reel, a second storage reel, a firstmoveable sheave, a second moveable sheave, a third moveable sheave, afourth moveable sheave, a first clutch, a second clutch, a clutchcontroller, and a moveable tensioning moveable sheave.

One or more embodiments relate to a long-length cable sample testingsystem. The system can utilize a parallel moveable sheave system and ahydraulically and/or electrically powered tensioning turning sheaveassembly that allows for transfer of long-cable sample lengths atvariable cable tensions and speeds with a low input horsepower. Thesystem can be used for from about a few hundred feet of cable to aboutseveral miles of cable in a single setting. The system can require alower amount of horsepower to move cable for testing as compared tonormal systems known in the art.

A first storage reel can be used for paying out cable to be tested. Thefirst storage reel can be adapted to apply tension to the cable, andallow the tension in the cable to be multiplied up to a test tension.

The system can include a first moveable sheave in series with a secondmoveable sheave. The first moveable sheave can be rotated by a firsthydraulic drive or a first electric drive. The second moveable sheavecan be rotated by a second hydraulic drive or a second electric drive.The first moveable sheave can receive the cable and can pass the cableto the second moveable sheave.

The third moveable sheave can be in series with a fourth moveablesheave. The third moveable sheave can be rotated by the second hydraulicdrive or the second electric drive. In embodiments, the third moveablesheave can be in parallel with the second moveable sheave. The fourthmoveable sheave can be rotated by the first hydraulic drive or the firstelectric drive, and can further be in parallel with the first moveablesheave.

In embodiments, each moveable sheave can have grooves for receiving thecable and for containing the cable in each of the grooves. In one ormore embodiments, each sheave can have at least six grooves. The groovescan be disposed in parallel, and can transfer the cable from onemoveable sheave to another moveable sheave without otherwise touching orcontacting additional cable.

Both the second moveable sheave and the third moveable sheave can betilted in part, thereby enabling at least two opposing grooves to belined-up or aligned at bottoms of the sheaves, but to be offset at topsof the sheaves to facilitate cable transfer without sliding the cable ona face of the moveable sheaves.

The second moveable sheave and the third moveable sheave can beconnected and/or coupled with a first clutch. The first clutch can beoperated by the second hydraulic drive. The first clutch can alsodisengage the second moveable sheave from the third movable sheave.

The first moveable sheave and a fourth moveable sheave can be connectedand/or coupled with a second clutch. The second clutch can be operatedby the first hydraulic drive. The second clutch can disengage the firstmoveable sheave from the second moveable sheave. The first clutch andthe second clutch can be controlled by a clutch controller that can bein communication with a power source. Each clutch can be operable by oneof the drives, a hydraulic power source, or combinations thereof.

A first friction material can be disposed between the first moveablesheave and the fourth moveable sheave. A second friction material can bedisposed between the second moveable sheave and the third moveablesheave. The friction material can provide coupling of each pair ofmoveable sheaves with the clutch. The first friction material and thesecond friction material can include a wearable brake material that canlock each pair of moveable sheaves together during testing of the cable.

The hydraulic drives and/or electric drives can be connected to orcoupled with a moveable tensioning moveable sheave, also referred to asa moveable tensioning sheave. In embodiments, the moveable tensioningsheave can include a load measuring sensor and a speed detector.

In embodiments, each of the hydraulic drives can have at least onehydraulic pump connected to a hydraulic motor for rotating each moveablesheave. From about one hydraulic pump to about eight hydraulic pumps canbe used in connection with each hydraulic drive. The hydraulic pump canhave a fluid reservoir, and can be operated by an electric motor. Theelectric motor can be powered by an electric power source, such as afour hundred sixty volt three-phase power supply.

The moveable tensioning sheave can receive the cable from the secondmoveable sheave and can pass the cable to the third moveable sheave,which can sequentially pass the cable to the fourth moveable sheave.

In embodiments, a second storage reel can be used for receiving thecable and can be adapted to apply a second tension to the cable to betested, which can allow the tension in the cable to be multiplied up tothe test tension.

In embodiments, the cable can be wrapped or reeved around the firstmoveable sheave and the second moveable sheave five times prior topassing the cable to the moveable tensioning sheave. The cable can movefrom the moveable tensioning sheave to the fourth moveable sheave, andcan then be wrapped or reeved around the third moveable sheave and thefourth moveable sheave five times prior to passing the cable to thesecond storage device.

The tensioning of the cable can occur at a speed from about one tenth ofa foot per minute to about one thousand feet per minute. The tensioningof the cable can occur at a load from about one hundred pounds of forceto about sixty thousand pounds of force.

In embodiments, a first electric drive and a second electric drive canbe used to rotate the moveable sheaves in addition to, or in replacementof, the first and second hydraulic drives.

In embodiments, a hydraulic power source can be connected to themoveable tensioning sheave. The hydraulic power source can have at leastone hydraulic pump connected to a hydraulic motor and/or a linearactuator. The hydraulic pump can have a fluid reservoir and can beoperated by an electric motor, which can be powered by an electric powersource.

The system can have a processor for receiving signals from the loadmeasuring sensor and the speed detector. The processor can be incommunication with a network, at least one client device, and a datastorage. The network can include the internet, an intranet, a local areanetwork, a wide area network, a virtual private network, a satellitenetwork, a cellular network, other similar networks, or combinationsthereof. The client devices can be laptops, cell phones, pagers, oranother network. In embodiments, the client device can have computerinstructions for continuous remote monitoring of one or more comparedsignals from one or more processors simultaneously. The client devicescan be in communication with the processor through the network forreceiving load signals, speed signals, compared signals, notifications,or combinations thereof.

Computer instructions can be located in the data storage and can be usedfor storing preset stress data for the cable to be tested. For example,data associated with loads that a cable can withstand can be stored inthe data storage. Data associated with speeds that a cable can withstandcan be stored in the data storage.

Computer instructions can be stored in the data storage to instruct theprocessor to compare received signals from the load measuring sensor andthe speed detector to the stored preset stress data, thereby formingcompared signals. The processor and can determine if the receivedsignals exceed or fall below the stored preset stress data. For example,if the stored preset stress data includes a maximum load amount of onethousand pounds, and the measured and received load signal is a load oftwo thousand pounds, then the processor can determine that the presetstress data has been exceeded.

The system can have computer instructions in the data storage toinstruct the processor to provide a notification when the comparedsignals exceed or fall below the stored preset stress data. For example,if the compared signals exceed or fall below the stored preset stressdata, the processor can transmit the notification over the network toone or more client devices, thereby notifying users of the deviationfrom the stored preset stress data.

The system can include computer instructions to instruct the processorto display the compared signals, the notification, or combinationsthereof within client devices.

In one or more embodiments, each drive of the system can be either ahydraulic drive or an electric drive. The first moveable sheave can beconfigured to receive the cable from the first storage reel. The firstdrive can be coupled with the first moveable sheave, and can beconfigured to rotate the first moveable sheave. The rotating firstmoveable sheave can be configured to pass the cable to the secondmoveable sheave in series with the first moveable sheave. The secondmoveable sheave can be configured to receive the cable from the firstmoveable sheave. The second drive can be coupled with the secondmoveable sheave, and can be configured to rotate the second moveablesheave. The moveable tensioning sheave can be coupled to at least one ofthe drives and can be disposed in series with the second moveablesheave. The second moveable sheave can be configured to pass the cableto the moveable tensioning sheave, which can be configured to receivethe cable from the second moveable sheave. The third moveable sheave canbe disposed in series with the moveable tensioning sheave, and can beconfigured to receive the cable from the moveable tensioning sheave. Thesecond drive can be coupled with the third moveable sheave for rotatingthe third moveable sheave. The fourth moveable sheave can be disposed inseries with the third moveable sheave and coupled with the first drivefor rotating the fourth moveable sheave. The rotating fourth moveablesheave can be configured to receive the cable from the rotating thirdmoveable sheave. The second storage reel can be configured to receivethe cable from the fourth moveable sheave, and can be adapted to apply asecond tension to the cable, thereby allowing tension in the cable to bemultiplied up to the test tension.

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic representation of an illustrative hydrauliccycle test system 100 according to one or more embodiments. Thehydraulic cycle test system 100, which can also be referred to as ahydraulic operated system for testing cable under tension, can includeone or more first storage reels 10, one or more first moveable sheaves14, one or more first friction materials 80, one or more fourth moveablesheaves 24, one or more second clutches 28, one or more second moveablesheaves 16, one or more second friction materials 82, one or more thirdmoveable sheaves 22, one or more first clutches 26, one or more firsthydraulic drives 18, one or more second hydraulic drives 20, one or moreclutch controllers 30, one or more power sources 32, one or more secondstorage reels 49, one or more moveable tensioning moveable sheaves 34,one or more hydraulic power sources 70, one or more client devices 52,and one or more processors 40 in communication with one or more datastorages 42.

Each of the moveable sheaves 14, 16, 22, and 24 can have six grooves forreceiving the cable 12 to be tested. The cable 12 can be contained ineach of the grooves in parallel, thereby allowing for the transfer of atleast a portion of the cable 12 from one moveable sheave to anothermoveable sheave without contacting additional portions of the cable 12.For example, grooves of the first moveable sheave 14 can contain thecable 12 as the cable 12 is transferred from the first moveable sheave14 to the second moveable sheave 16. The grooves of the moveable sheavescan be tilted in part, thereby enabling at least two opposing grooves tobe aligned at the bottoms thereof but offset at the tops thereof. Thetilt of the grooves can facilitate the transfer of a portion of thecable 12 from one moveable sheave to another moveable sheave, and canprevent the portion of the cable 12 from sliding about the face of theassociated moveable sheaves.

The first friction material 80 can be disposed between the firstmoveable sheave 14 and the fourth moveable sheave 24. The secondfriction material 82 can be disposed between the second moveable sheave16 and the third moveable sheave 22. The first friction material 80 cancouple together the first moveable sheave 14 and the fourth moveablesheave 24 with at least one of the clutches 26 and 28 utilizing africtional force. The second friction material 82 can couple togetherthe second moveable sheave 16 and the third moveable sheave 22 with atleast one of the clutches 26 and 28 utilizing a frictional force. Thefriction materials 80 and 82 can include wearable brake material thatcan lock the pairs of moveable sheaves together during testing of thecable 12.

The first clutch 26 can connect the second moveable sheave 16 to thethird moveable sheave 22. Accordingly, the first clutch 26 can disengagethe second moveable sheave 16 from the third moveable sheave 22. In oneor more embodiments, the first clutch 26 can be operated by the secondhydraulic drive 20.

The second clutch 28 can connect the first moveable sheave 14 to thefourth moveable sheave 24. Accordingly, the second clutch 28 candisengage the first moveable sheave 14 from the fourth moveable sheave24. In one or more embodiments, the second clutch 28 can be operated bythe first hydraulic drive 18.

In one or more embodiments, the clutch controller 30 can control thefirst clutch 26 and the second clutch 28. The clutch controller 30 canbe in communication with the power source 32.

The moveable tensioning moveable sheave 34 can be connected to and/or incommunication with at least one of the hydraulic drives 18 and 20, thehydraulic power source 70, or combinations thereof. The moveabletensioning moveable sheave 34 can include a load measuring sensor 36 anda speed detector 38. The load measuring sensor 36 can be a stress gauge,a strain gauge, or a similar device for measuring load. The speeddetector 38 can be tachometer, encoder, or similar device.

In operation, the first moveable sheave 14 can receive the cable 12 fromthe first storage reel 10. The second moveable sheave 16 can receive thecable 12 from the first moveable sheave 14. The moveable tensioningmoveable sheave 34 can receive the cable 12 from the second moveablesheave 16.

In one or more embodiments, the processor 40 can be in communicationwith: the client device 52, the load measuring sensor 36, the speeddetector 38, the data storage 42, or combinations thereof. Accordingly,the processor 40 can communicate with the client device 52, the loadmeasuring sensor 36, and the speed detector 38. The processor 40 canreceive signals from the load measuring sensor 36 and the speed detector38 and can store the signals in the data storage 42. The processor 40can monitor the tension loads of the cable 12, the speed of the cable12, or combinations thereof.

The data storage 42 can have: computer instructions 43 to instruct theprocessor to store preset stress data for the cable 12; computerinstructions 44 to instruct the processor to compare received signalsfrom the load measuring sensor 36 and the speed detector 38 to thestored preset stress data, and to form compared signals; computerinstructions 45 to instruct the processor to provide a notification 46when the compared signals exceed or fall below the stored preset stressdata; and computer instructions 47 to instruct the processor to displaythe compared received signals, the notification, or combinations thereofwithin the client device 52. The data storage 42 is shown with presetstress data 48 stored therein.

The processor 40 can be in communication with the client device 52 via anetwork 50. The network 50 can be the Internet, a local communicationnetwork, a satellite network, a cellular network, a wired network, awireless network, or any other communication network. Data 53 is shownbeing transmitted from the processor 40 to the client device 52 over thenetwork 50. The data 53 can include a notification, a load signal, aspeed signal, a compared signal, other data associated with the cable,or combinations thereof.

The client device 52 can have computer instructions 54 to allow forcontinuous remote monitoring of a plurality of compared signals from theprocessor and/or a plurality of processors. The processor 40 can be incommunication with a plurality of client devices simultaneously. Theclient device 52 can be a laptop, a cell phone, a pager, or anotherelectronic device.

In operation, the cable 12 can be connected to the first storage reel 10and to the first moveable sheave 14. Accordingly, the first storage reel10 can be used to payout the cable 12, and to apply a first tension 11to the cable 12. Accordingly, the cable 12 can be tensioned up to a testtension.

The first hydraulic drive 18 can rotate the first moveable sheave 14 andthe fourth moveable sheave 24. The second hydraulic drive 20 can rotatethe second moveable sheave 16 and the third moveable sheave 22.Accordingly, the cable 12 can be passed from the first moveable sheave14 to the second moveable sheave 16. For example, the cable 12 can beconfigured to reeve around the first moveable sheave 14 and the secondmoveable sheave 16, such as five times, after which the cable 12 canpass from the second moveable sheave 16 to the moveable tensioningmoveable sheave 34. Within the moveable tensioning moveable sheave 34,the load measuring sensor 36 can measure the load on the cable 12, andthe speed detector 38 can measure the speed of the cable 12, formingsignals and transmitting the signals to the processor 40 for storage inthe data storage 42. The moveable tensioning moveable sheave 34 can passthe cable 12 to the third moveable sheave 22.

The third moveable sheave 22 can be connected in series with the fourthmoveable sheave 24, and in parallel with the second moveable sheave 16.The third moveable sheave 22 can be configured to be rotated by thesecond hydraulic drive 20. The fourth moveable sheave 24 can be inparallel with the first moveable sheave 14, and can be configured to berotated by the first hydraulic drive 18. Accordingly, the cable 12 canpass from the third moveable sheave 22 to the fourth moveable sheave 24as the moveable sheaves rotate. The cable 12 can then pass from thefourth moveable sheave 24 to the second storage reel 49. In one or moreembodiments, the cable 12 can be configured to reeve around the thirdmoveable sheave 22 and the fourth moveable sheave 24 five times prior topassing to the second storage reel 49.

The second storage reel 49 can be configured to receive the cable 12,and to apply a second tension 51 to the cable 12, thereby allowingtension in the cable 12 to be multiplied up to the test tension.

The tensioning of the cable 12 can occur at a speed from about one tenthof a foot per minute to about one thousand feet per minute. Thetensioning of the cable 12 can occur at a load from about one hundredpounds of force to about sixty thousand pounds of force.

A simplified schematic representation of the hydraulic cycle test system100 shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 6. The cable 12 is released fromthe first storage reel 10. The cable 12 then winds between the firstmoveable sheave 14 and second moveable sheave 16 before coupling to themoveable tensioning sheave 34. The cable 12 then winds between the thirdmoveable sheave 22 and fourth moveable sheave 24 prior to storage in thesecond storage reel 49. The moveable tensioning sheave 34 is showncoupled to the hydraulic power source 70.

FIG. 2 depicts a schematic representation of an illustrativeelectrically operated cycle test system, according to one or moreembodiments. The electrically operated system 200 can include a firstelectric drive 66 and a second electric drive 68 for driving themoveable sheaves 14, 16, 22, and 24. In addition, the hydraulic powersource 70 can be in fluid communication with the first clutch 26 and thesecond clutch 28.

The operation of the electrically operated system 200 can besubstantially similar to the operation of the hydraulically operatedsystem 100 in FIG. 1. The first electric drive 66 can drive the firstmoveable sheave 14 and the fourth moveable sheave 24. The secondelectric drive 68 can drive the second moveable sheave 16 and the thirdmoveable sheave 22. The hydraulic power source 70 can operate the firstclutch 26 and the second clutch 28.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic of the first hydraulic drive 18, according toone or more embodiments. The first hydraulic drive 18 can include ahydraulic fluid reservoir 62, a hydraulic motor 58, a hydraulic pump 56a, and an electric motor 60. The electric motor 60 can be incommunication with an electric power source 64. The second hydraulicdrive can be substantially similar to the first hydraulic drive 18.

The hydraulic fluid reservoir 62 can be any fluid containment source,and can contain any hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid reservoir 62can be in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump 56 a. Thehydraulic pump 56 a can be a centrifugal pump or another fluid pump. Thehydraulic pump 56 a can be in fluid communication with the hydraulicmotor 58. The hydraulic pump 56 a can be driven by the electric motor60. The electric motor 60 can be a squirrel cage electric motor oranother type of electric motor. The electric motor 60 can receive powerfrom the electric power source 64, which can be an alternating currentor direct current power source depending on the type of electric motor60 used.

As the electric motor 60 drives the hydraulic pump 56 a, the hydraulicpump 56 a can provide a pump head to the fluid in the hydraulic fluidreservoir 62 and can flow the fluid from the hydraulic fluid reservoir62 to the hydraulic motor 58. As such, the hydraulic pump 56 a can drivethe hydraulic motor 58 by moving the fluid in the hydraulic fluidreservoir 62 to the hydraulic motor 58. The hydraulic motor 58 can bedirectly and/or indirectly coupled to one or more of the moveablesheaves and can drive the coupled moveable sheaves.

FIG. 4 depicts a schematic of an illustrative first electric drive 66,according to one or more embodiments. The first electric drive 66 caninclude an electric motor 83, a gear reduction mechanism 84, and anelectronic motor controller 88. The electric motor 83 can be incommunication with an electric power source 90.

The electric motor 83 can be an alternating current electric motor or adirect current motor. The electric motor 83 can be powered by theelectric power source 90, and controlled by the electronic motorcontroller 88. The electronic motor controller 88 can be a variablespeed controller, a digital speed controller, an on/of switch, or acombination thereof. The gear reduction mechanism 84 can directly and/orindirectly couple the electric motor 83 to one or more of the moveablesheaves and can drive one or more of the coupled moveable sheaves. Thegear reduction mechanism 84 can be a speed reducer or a similar device,and can convert a portion of the speed of the electric motor to torque.The second electric drive can be substantially similar to the firstelectric drive.

FIG. 5 a schematic of an illustrative hydraulic power source 70,according to one or more embodiments. The hydraulic power source 70 caninclude one or more hydraulic pumps 56 a, a linear actuator 61, one ormore electric motors 60, and one or more hydraulic fluid reservoirs 62.The electric motor 60 can engage an electric power source 64.

The hydraulic power source 70 can include a plurality of hydraulicpumps. For example, the hydraulic power source 70 can have from aboutone hydraulic pump to about eight hydraulic pumps. The hydraulic pump 56a can be in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid reservoir 62and with the linear actuator 61. The electric motor 60 can be configuredto drive the hydraulic pump 56 a. Accordingly, the electric motor 60 canprovide power to the hydraulic pump 56 a to flow fluid from thehydraulic reservoir 62 to the linear actuator 61.

The electric power source 64 can be a four hundred sixty voltthree-phase power supply or another power supply depending on the typeof electric motor 60 used. The linear actuator 61 can be coupled to themoveable tensioning moveable sheave through a mechanical linkage.

While these embodiments have been described with emphasis on theembodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of theappended claims, the embodiments might be practiced other than asspecifically described herein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A cable testing system, comprising: a firststorage reel for paying out a cable to be tested; a first moveablesheave and a second moveable sheave to receive the cable in series fromthe first storage reel, wherein rotation of the first moveable sheaveand the second moveable sheave is controlled by a first drive; a thirdmoveable sheave and a fourth moveable sheave to receive the cable inseries from the second moveable sheave, wherein rotation of the thirdmoveable sheave and the fourth moveable sheave is controlled by a seconddrive; a first clutch and a second clutch operably coupled between atleast two of the first moveable sheave, the second moveable sheave, thethird moveable sheave, and the fourth moveable sheave; a moveabletensioning sheave coupled to a power source, the moveable tensioningsheave positioned to receive a portion of the cable between the secondmoveable sheave and the third moveable sheave; and a second storage reelto receive the cable from the fourth moveable sheave.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the one or both of the first drive and the second driveis a hydraulic drive, an electric drive, or combinations thereof.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the first clutch controls rotation of thesecond moveable sheave and the third moveable sheave.
 4. The system ofclaim 3, wherein the second clutch controls rotation of the firstmoveable sheave and the fourth moveable sheave.
 5. The system of claim1, wherein the moveable tensioning sheave comprises a load measuringsensor and a speed detector.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the firstdrive is a hydraulic drive and the power source is a hydraulic powersource.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second drive is ahydraulic drive.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first drive is anelectric drive and the power source is a hydraulic power source.
 9. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the second drive is an electric drive.
 10. Acable testing system, comprising: a first storage reel for paying out acable to be tested; a first moveable sheave to receive the cable fromthe first storage reel and disposed in series with a second moveablesheave, wherein rotation of the first moveable sheave and the secondmoveable sheave is controlled by a first drive; a moveable tensioningsheave to receive the cable from the second moveable sheave, themoveable tensioning sheave being coupled to a power source; a thirdmoveable sheave to receive the cable from the moveable tensioning sheaveand disposed in series with a fourth moveable sheave, wherein rotationof the third moveable sheave and the fourth moveable sheave iscontrolled by a second drive; a first clutch and a second clutchoperably coupled between at least two of the first moveable sheave, thesecond moveable sheave, the third moveable sheave, and the fourthmoveable sheave; and a second storage reel to receive the cable from thefourth moveable sheave.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the firstdrive is a hydraulic drive and the power source is a hydraulic powersource.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second drive is ahydraulic drive.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first drive isan electric drive and the power source is a hydraulic power source. 14.The system of claim 13, wherein the second drive is an electric drive.15. The system of claim 10, wherein the first clutch controls rotationof the second moveable sheave and the third moveable sheave.
 16. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein the second clutch controls rotation of thefirst moveable sheave and the fourth moveable sheave.
 17. A cabletesting system, comprising: a first storage reel for paying out a cableto be tested; a first moveable sheave to receive the cable from thefirst storage reel and disposed in series with a second moveable sheave,wherein rotation of the first moveable sheave and the second moveablesheave is controlled by a first drive; a third moveable sheave toreceive the cable from the second moveable sheave and disposed in serieswith a fourth moveable sheave, the third moveable sheave and the fourthmoveable sheave being disposed in parallel to the first moveable sheaveand the second moveable sheave, wherein rotation of the third moveablesheave and the fourth moveable sheave is controlled by a second drive; amoveable tensioning sheave coupled to a hydraulic power source, themoveable tensioning sheave positioned to receive a portion of the cablebetween the second moveable sheave and the third moveable sheave andapply a tension to the cable; and a second storage reel to receive thecable from the fourth moveable sheave.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein the first drive and the second drive is a hydraulic drive. 19.The system of claim 17, wherein the first drive and the second drive isan electric drive.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the moveabletensioning sheave comprises a load measuring sensor and a speeddetector.